Portland Opens Conference Final With 3-1 Win Over FC Dallas

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Liam Ridgewell, Dairon Asprilla and Nat Borchers scored and the Portland Timbers beat FC Dallas 3-1 on Sunday night in the first leg of Major League Soccer's Western Conference finals.

With a 2-0 deficit, David Texeira scored in the 61st minute to narrow it for Dallas, the West's top seed in the playoffs. But Borchers added a goal for Portland at the 90-minute mark.

The surging Timbers have the upper hand going into the second leg set for Toyota Stadium in Texas next Sunday. The winner on aggregate will advance to the MLS Cup final Dec. 6.

In the Eastern Conference finals earlier Sunday, Columbus beat the visiting New York Red Bulls 2-0.